Ross Douthat, New York Times Opinion columnist, hosts this episode of Interesting Times where he delivers a stark warning to conservatives about Trump's second presidency.

Speaking as a conservative critic, Douthat argues that Trump has lost the country just one year into his second term, with approval ratings at 37% and significant electoral losses in previously safe Republican districts.

Drawing parallels to liberal denial during the Biden era, he contends that right-wing media is similarly blind to Trump's declining support among moderates and swing voters who are essential for any lasting conservative agenda.

Trump's Declining Political Position After One Year

"A year into his second presidency, Donald Trump has lost the country" with approval ratings at 37%, the lowest of his second term - Douthat

The majority of voters now believe the country is worse off today compared to when Trump took office

The grand coalition that defeated Kamala Harris has fractured, with swing voters and moderates abandoning Trump

Electoral Warning Signs in Republican Strongholds

Texas Republicans suffered a major loss in a district Trump won by 17 points in 2024, representing an over 30-point shift to the left

"You just can't have a transformative agenda if you don't keep moderates and the general public on your side" - Douthat

Real-World Impact on Trump Supporters

A farm worker reports losing their best hands due to Trump's deportations: "So I work on my family's farm and we've lost our best hands because of Trump's deportations. I regret voting for Donald Trump"

Conservative agenda items like secure borders, university ideological diversity, and DEI rollback will disappear without broader support

Right-Wing Media's Blind Spot Problem

Right-wing influencers either claim "Trump is doing a great job" or argue he's failing because he's "not aggressive or revolutionary enough"

"There's no one there to point out the bleeding obvious that the Trump administration is losing ground because millions of Americans look at its behavior and get freaked out" - Douthat

Conservatives willing to point out problems are dismissed as "New York Times conservatives, weak knee squishes, Trump skeptics rather than true believers"

Parallels to Biden-Era Liberal Denial

During the Biden era, liberals insisted Biden was popular and effective, blaming problems on "right-wing misinformation" when he governed well to the left of the country

"Unless the administration can act a little bit more moderate and a little bit more normal, there won't be any Trump legacy at all" - Douthat